WAVE MOTION: Physics Short Answer Questions

WAVE MOTION: PHYSICS SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

What is Wave Motion?

A wave is a disturbance in a medium and the wave motion explains how a wave moves in any medium. Air isn't a wave. The particles of air move in random directions. However sound can act as a medium for the propagation of other waves. For example, a sound is basically a pressure wave that moves in air through compressions (regions of high density in the air molecules) and rarefactions.

Following are some of the chosen Very Important Physics Short Answer Questions of the Wave Motion module:

1. How are stationary waves formed?

Ans: Waves of the same wavelength and amplitude traveling with the same speed through a medium in opposite direction and superimpose upon each other, they give rise to a wave which is called stationary. In stationary waves, there is a certain point where the amplitude of vibration is always zero. point is known as nodes. Midway between these nodes, there are other points where the amplitude of vibration is maximum. These points are known as antinodes. The formation of the stationary waves along with nodes and antinodes is shown in the figure.

2. If you are walking on the moon's surface, can you hear the cracking sound behind you? Explain.

Ans: There is no atmosphere in the moon because of its weak gravity. For the propagation of sound waves, the medium is necessary. This means sound waves can not propagate through a vacuum. So, due to the lack of medium (i.e atmosphere), the propagation of sound waves on the moon's surface is not possible. So, we cannot hear the cracking sound behind us.

3. Do sound waves undergo reflection .refraction and polarization phenomena? Explain.

Ans: Sound waves undergo reflection refraction and phenomena. Sound waves are reflected from surfaces like walls, ground, big walls, etc. During night hearing of sound is clearer than at day time due to the refraction of sound. But sound wave does not undergo polarization phenomena because it is a longitudinal wave, and only transverse wave can propagate undergo the phenomenon of polarization.

4. Which types of waves propagate in liquid, Explain?

Ans: For the propagation of the transverse wave, the modulus of rigidity of the medium is responsible and for the propagation of the longitudinal wave, the bulks modulus of electricity is responsible. A solid has both moduli of rigidity and bulk modulus but a liquid has only bulk modulus. Hence only longitudinal waves can propagate through the liquid.

5. Longitudinal waves cannot be polarized. why?

Ans: Polarization is the phenomenon of restriction of waves to vibrate in a single direction. The transverse wave vibrates in all directions and we cannot cut of direction restricting vibration in a single direction. The longitudinal waves vibrate in a single direction (in the direction of propagation of the wave). Due to this reason, longitudinal waves can not be polarized.

6. How Mechanical Waves are formed?

Ans: Mechanical waves are formed by the vibration of the objects which continuously move back and forth. Basically, mechanical waves are of two types and they are, Transverse waves and Longitudinal waves. 

7. How waves transfer energy from one place to another?

Ans: All the waves transfer energy from one place to another without transferring any matter through it. This process is done by a series of disturbance known as vibrations created which carries the energy. It's just like people sitting in their specific seats and only standing when their turn comes. Wave can transfer their energy through all states, solids, liquids, gases, and empty spaces (known as vacuums).

8. Why echo cannot be heard in a small room?

Ans: It is because the minimum distance between the speaker and the wall needs to be at least 17m to hear an echo. If a room is small, this requirement is not fulfilled which is the very basic requirement to hear and echo. Hence, we cannot hear and echo in a small room.

9. Frequency is the most fundamental property of a wave. Why?

Ans: Frequency is the most fundamental property of a wave. In a wave motion, its velocity and wavelength may change with the medium from it is passed through but the frequency does not change and remains constant. Due to this reason, the frequency of a wave is taken as an empirical parameter or simply the most fundamental property of a wave.

10. What is the Stationary wave?

Ans: Whenever the two progressive waves of the exact same wavelength and amplitude travel in an opposite direction with the same speed in the same medium and undergoes superposition then, a resulting wave is formed which is known as a Stationary wave. These waves are called Stationary waves because there is not any flow of energy along with the wave.

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